US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attempted to defuse escalating tensions over the recent killing of three Indian sailors by American naval forces off the coast of Oman.
Speaking to the media after their first bilateral meeting in 16 months, Trump said both Washington and New Delhi continue to “work together” on the issue, calling commercial vessel operations “a rough profession”.
“I heard about that,” Trump added, without offering any condolences or regret. “This has been happening throughout time, but we work together. We love all of those people, and they’re great people.”
Interspersed with talk about the US-Iran memorandum of understanding in his opening remarks, Modi also raised the sailors’ deaths, saying the safety of Indian seafarers “is of utmost importance” to India.
“I am confident the safety of seafarers will be ensured and receive the highest priority during the implementation of this agreement,” he added.
Relations between the two sides deteriorated after US forces fired missiles last week at the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, killing three Indian nationals.
American forces also attacked two other commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members for what US Central Command called violations of a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
In its response, India summoned US charge d’affaires Jason Meeks twice in three days, followed by a tense phone call between Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
While Jaishankar voiced “strong protest” over the killings in his call, the State Department’s readout of the conversation laid bare the prevailing tensions.
“He underscored that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated,” said Tommy Pigott, the State Department spokesperson.
The US decision to double down on the issue triggered widespread anger in India, with videos emerging of auto rickshaw drivers in Delhi ripping Trump posters from their vehicles.
The banners were part of the US embassy’s outreach campaign, carrying slogans of “Happy Birthday America” with Trump’s picture.
India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also criticised the government, calling the prime minister “compromised”.
“A free country would never tolerate such language. But our Compromised PM? Silent. They listen like an obedient servant and comply with the orders,” he posted on social media.
US’ changing ties with India: from bonhomie to tariffs and Maga ire
In a symbolic move on Tuesday, the Pentagon dropped “Indo” from the US Pacific Command and reverted to its original name, while stressing that its area of operations would remain unchanged. Analysts viewed it as a downgrade of ties with New Delhi.
However, Trump hailed the US-India defence relationship in the press conference, vowing to defend the country in the event of a crisis. India is not a formal US defence ally, and this comes after questions were raised about the US’ willingness to defend fellow Nato members under its one-for-all Article 5.
“We don’t have a contract, but if they were attacked, we would be there to help them,” Trump said. “I don’t think we can be any closer, both him and I, and our nations, but it really starts with the two of us. We cannot be closer.”
Trump and Modi last met in February 2025 in Washington, where the two sides began talks to finalise a bilateral trade agreement, making India one of the first countries to enter negotiations with Washington.
But the bonhomie was followed by a year of punitive US tariffs, sanctions over Russian oil, visa restrictions and anti-India rhetoric from Trump’s Maga base. Trump’s repeated assertions on mediating a brief conflict with Pakistan in May last year also strained ties.
Talks are still underway over an interim trade deal, with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expected to travel to India next week.
On Wednesday, Trump called Modi a “tough trader” and a “great guy” and said he will be visiting India “sometime in the future”.
Trump travelled to China last month for a bilateral summit with President Xi Jinping, bypassing a stop in New Delhi, which was widely seen as a snub to India.
Instead, Rubio visited India soon after, and characterised the country as one of America’s “most important strategic partners”.
The Secretary of State also attended the “downgraded” Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, reassuring members of US commitment and announcing multiple frameworks, including a Quad Critical Minerals Initiative and Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration.
The Quad, comprising the United States, Japan, Australia and India, aims to promote a “free and open” Indo-Pacific and balance China’s expanding influence in the strategically vital region.
In the press conference, Trump sidestepped a question on the Quad and focused on “G2” – his meeting with Xi in September. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
